Gage for finding the lengths, bevels, and cuts of building material.



No. 838,365. PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906.

J. n. WALL.

GAGE FOR FINDING THE LBNGTHS, BEVELS, AND CUTS OF BUILDING MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1905.

. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/TNESSES: INVENTOR lfofzwfl Z7ZZZ ATTORNEYS No. 888,365. PATENTED BBQ-11, 1906. J. D. WALL.

G AGE FOR FINDING THE LENGTHS, BEVELS, AND CUTS OF BUILDING MATERIAL.

APPLiOATION FILED OGT.20. 1905.

5 SHEETfi-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 175/022 l/KZZZ ATTORNEYS m: NORRIS PETERS co, wAsn'lNntoN. n c.

No. 838,365. PATENTED DEG.11, 1906.

J. D. WALL.

GAG-E FOR FINDING THE LENGTHS, BEVELS, AND OUTS OF BUILDING MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.Z0. 1905.

5 sums-slum a.

ATTORNEYS 1H: NORRIS PETERS ca.. wAsl-uNcraN. c.

PATENTED DEG. 11,1906.

J. D. WALL. GAGE FOR FINDING THE LBNGTHS, BEVELS, AND CUTS OF BUILDING MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED 0GT.20. 1905.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

E I /J- I ATTORNEYS TNE NORRIS PEI'ERS co., wAsmNcrcm, a. c.

PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906. J. D. WALL.

GAGE FOR FINDING THE LENGTHS, BBVELS, AND CUTS OF BUILDING MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.20, 1905- 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR A TTORN E Y8 rm; NORRIS PETERS 6a.. WASHINGTON. u. c.

PATENT OFFTQE.

TINTTED STATES JOHN \VALL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

GAGE FOR FINDING THE LENGTHS, BEVELS, AND CUTS OF BUILDING MATERIAL.

To all 7072/0111! it 71m concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN D. ALL, a citizen of the United States, and a. resident of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and Improved for Finding the Lengths, Bevels, and Cuts of Building Material, of which the following is it full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a simple device for the use of ciirpenters and others whereby to quickly and accurately obtain the lengths, bevels, and cuts of any and all kinds of rafters employed, especially in all kinds of roofs, from the flat roof, with but a few inches rise or pitch, to the sharp rise or pitch of the spire, and also the lengths and bevels of other work, such as hoppers, trusses, braces, and Stilt-111118, either dome or circular. In flct, by the use of the gage any required angle of any piece of timber used in the construction of a building can be readily obtsined.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the sever-e1 parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the clirims.

Reference is to he lied to the ncccompenying drmvings, forming it part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is pl on view of the gage in its simplest form sdnpted to obtain the length and the tingle of the cut for common rafters. Fig. 2 is 2". side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is e perspective view of the ixrrenged for obti ining the length of hip and jack rafters iind for obtaining the angles for the v: rious cuts of siid rafters and also for obtaining the amount to be cut from the hip-rrfters for broking the same end the angle of the out. Fig. 4 is :1 detail view of .mn attachment to the gige to be adjusted lengthwise of the mgiin st-snderd for determining the angle of the hip-rafters at the ridge, and Fig. 5 is r. h i rizontiil section tnken pr cticnlly on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is c. side clevition of the device, illustrating the employment of :in ettichment for dethe angle of roofs or similar structures in degrees insteid of inches. Fig. 7 is det il view illustrctilg the use of an attjclnnent for determi'iiing the mnount to be cut from the hip-r; fters 1n backing the same. Fig. 8 is e llOI'lZOlLtLl section taken practi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 20, 1905.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Serial No. 283.633.

cclly on the line 8 S of Fig. 6, the table being omitted. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the form of used in determin'ng the angle and cuts in rafters and other structural portions of polygonal structures. Fig. 10 is a detail verticsl section til-ken practically on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is side elevation of the gztge, illustrating the use of an attachment for determining the length of material to be used in irregulnrly-sheped, dome, or like structures. Fig. 12 is a section taken practically on the line 12 12 of Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 is c. detcil perspective view of en attachment to the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 for taking the length and angles or cuts 011 jackpredetermined ground-plan measurements.

1n the drctwings the scale is drawn to the square of six. The table A is rectangular, and the scale reads in all four directions adjacent to the margin of the table from one to six inches inclusive, and in producing the scale main divisionnl lines 11 are employed, which cross one cnother at right angles, and a series of intermediate lines 12, which like wise cross each other, producing at number of squares a, representing each the fractional portion of en inch. I desire it to be understood thet the device may be made of any size and that the scale can read from 1 to any given figure.

An adjusting-arm B is employed in connection with the table A, which arm is loceted beneath the table and is provided at one end with a dip-section 13, as, shown in Figs. 2 and 6, which dip-section terminates in an eye. is always beneath the teble'A; but the opposite end of the arm B extends beyond the table and is provided with a longitudinal slot 14. A clen-iping-button 15 is adjustable This end of the adjusting-arm B in the slot, the button being'adapted for locking engagement with the edge of the table, as is shown in Fig. 3. The adjusting arm B is adapted to give rotary movement to a standard C, which standard is mounted to turn at the left-hand rear corner of the table, and said standard represents a line drawn vertically through the center of the proposed building. A line drawn vertically through the center of said standard will coincide with the marginal scale-lines 11 at the left-hand side and back of the table, where said lines meet.

The standard C is provided with a longitudinal central slot 16, preferably double the width of a needle D, to be hereinafter described, which slot extends from a point near the top of the table A to a point near the upper end of the standard, and upon the front face of the standard a scale 17 is produced, reading in inches and the fractions thereof, the readingbeing from the bottom of the standard, as best shown in Fig. 3. The lower end of the said standard is provided with a post extension 18, threaded at its lower portion, and said post is further provided with a plain upper section 19 and a collar 20, just above the said plain surface, as is shown in Fig. 2. The plain and collar portions 19 and 20 of the post 18 turn freely in the countersunk opening in the table A at the said lefthand rear corner, and the standard is tightened up by a nut 21, located on the threaded portion of the said post 18. The inner end of the adjusting-arm B is made to receive the lower end of the post 18, being secured thereto by a pin 22 or its equivalent, so that by loosening the nut 15 on the adjusting-arm the said arm can be moved, and consequently the standard C, and when the standard C has been made to face in the proper direction it is secured in position by bringing the clamping-button 15 in close engagement with the table, as is shown in Fig. 2.

A guide C is mounted to slide upon the standard C, which guide consists of a clamping base-section 23, loosely embracing the standard at each side of the slot 16, and two upwardly-extending parallel fingers 24, adjustably connected at their upper ends by a screw 25 or a like device. The fingers 2 1 are located at the rear of the standard C and thespace between them is in registry with the slot 16 in the said standard. The guide C is held in adjusted position by a set-screw 26, passed through the base 23.

In connection with the parts above enumerated what I denominate a scale-needle D is employed, which is in the form of a flat bar of sufficient thickness to pass through the slot 16 of the standard C and the space between the fingers of the guide C. The lower end 27 of this needle is pointed or is more or less beveled, and a scale 28 in inches and fractions thereof is produced upon one or upon both sides of the needle, reading at its upper edge. In order to get the length, bevel, and cut of a common rafter by the use of a gage made as described, the operation is as follows: Supposing the house is to be twentyfour feet wide and the pitch to be one-third,

which will be one-third of the width of the building. The height of the roof is eight feet from the top of the wall-plate of the building. Then on the gage it is found that onehalf inch to a foot is a convenient scale under which to work. The rear end of the needle D is then passed through the slot in the standard C and through the space between the fingers of the clamp C, and the point of the needle is set on the outside line 11 of the right hand side of the table immediately opposite the scaleface of the standard. When the point of the needle is in proper position, it will be at the figure 6, where the front line 11 meets the side corresponding line. Now we have taken half of an inch to the foot for the scale, so that there are twelve one-half inches from the face of the standard C, which will count for twelve feet on the building, or the length that one rafterwill reach to the center of the building. The height of the rafter from the wall-plate is eight feet, and on the gage will be eight half-inches or four full inches, and therefore the point of the needle D, remaining on the table, the rear end of the needle is adjusted by means of the guide C until the scale edge of the needle is opposite the figure 4 on the standard C, indicating four inches, at which time the guide C is fixed by means of the set-screw 26, so that if the needle D is properly fixed just four inches high where it passes through the standard C and extends six inches out the said needle in this position represents the rafter from its pointed. end to the standard, and by running up the scale 28 on the needle to the point where the needle engages with the standard C it will be found to indicate fourteen feet and seven-sixteenths of a foot, computed according to the scale employed, which number of feet will be the exact length necessary for a common rafter for a house twenty-four feet wide. The same operation is carried out with relation to any desired width or height of roof. The bevel or the amount of material to be cut off will be indicated at the point of the needle on the table A, as the amount of material to be removed and the bevel of the cut will be the same as the inclination and dimensions of the space intervening between the pointed end of the needle and the upper face of the table.

In order that the needle can be removed and yet the points of measurement remain designated on the needle, a gage-plate 29 is adjustably placed on the said needle where it passes through the standard, the said plate being in engagement with the scale-face of the standard and being secured to the needle D by a clamping-bolt 30. This plate is provided with an opening 31, which will be located at that point where the scale upper edge of the needle engages with the standard, thus indicating the amount of measurement that was found by the adjustment of the needle. This gage-plate 29 is provided, preferably, with a horizontal extension 32 at the top, upon which a level may be placed, and in order to more properly define the angle of the bevel indicated at the lower portion of the needle D a second gage-plate 33 occupies a vertical position relative to the pointed end of the needle, crossing said end and being attached thereto by a clamping-bolt 34. The said ga e-plate 33 is provided with a footpiece 30, which rests upon the upper face of the said table A, as is shown best in Fig. 2.

The house for which measurements are to be obtained, it will be remembered, is sup posed to be twentyfour feet wide and the roof eight feet high from the plate to the ridge, twelve feet from the ridge to the side plates, and twelve feet from the end plates to the ridge. Now to obtain the bevel and length of the hip-rafters the adjusting-arm B is loosened and the needle D is still held secure in the standard C at the mark indicating four inches on the scale of the said standard. As the hip rafters, however, have greater length and inclination than the common rafters, the standard C is turned by means of the adj usting-arm B until the clamping device 15 reaches the forward right-hand corner of the table A, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and without changing the height of the needle D it is drawn outward until its point is at the scale-figure 6, indicating six inches, or to the point where the outer front line 11 crosses the outer right-hand side line 11, which is at the right-hand front corner of the table. The required leng thof the hip-rafter is then read in inches where the scale of the needle crosses the scale of the standard, and the required bevel or amount to be removed will be indicated by the dimensions and inclinations of the space intervening between the beveled edge of the needle and the upper face of the table. In this connection the gage-plates 29 and 33 (shown in Fig. 2) may be employed; but said plates are removed when not required.

Now with reference to the jack-rafters, supposing there are three of them at each half of the roof, to find the length of said rafters a second needle D is used in connection with the needle D, and a second scale-guide C is provided for the second needle, as is shown in Fig. 3. The guide C consists of a base-block 36, mounted to slide upon the lower edge of the needle D, being secured in position by a set-screw 37 and a body member 38, which is secured to the base, said body member consisting of two upwardly-extending parallel spaced fingers adjustably connected at the top by a set-screw 39. After the guide C is in position on the needle D, which now represents a hip-rafter, the needle D is passed through the space between the members of the body of the guide in such manner as to bring the lower edge of the needle D across the upper edge of the needle D. The needle D represents a jack-rafter, and said needle D is provided with a scale in inches, produced at its lower edge. If the jack-rafters are to be one foot apart, the point of the needle D is adjusted, for example, to the line marked 3, indicating three inches and running from the right-hand side of the table in direction of the left-hand side, as shown in Fig. 3, and at a perpendicular line drawn downward from the needle D to the line marker "3 and designating three inches, as specified. The guide C is placed upon and secured to the needle D, and the exact length of this particular jack-rafter can be read on the scale 40 of the needle D where the needle D crosses the needle D. It may be here stated that one reason why the slot 16 in the standard C is made about double the width of the needle D is that all measure ments are taken from the center of said slot. Therefore the scale representing the hiprafter must be moved over to one side of the slot 16 to obtain the correct length of the jack-rafter. Then in actual work one-half of the thickness of the hip must be cut from the jack.

In regard to the side and plumb cuts for jack-rafters, I employ the attachment to the gage-plate 29, (shown particularly in Fig. 13,) as the attachment of the gage-plate in its simple form (shown in Fig. 2) and applied to the jack-needle D would not admit of it properly fitting against the hip-needle D. Therefore I hinge a leaf 29 vertically and longitudinally to the gage-plate 29 and pivot on the top of the leaf a limiting slotted bar 32 which is adjustably attached to the extension 32 from the gage-plate 29 by a set-screw 32 and in operation the leaf 29 is made to rest against the scale-face of the hip-needle D, as is clearly shown in Fig. 13. All angles are taken off by nteans of the ordinary carpenters bevel. I/Vhen the attachment shown in Fig. 13 is employed, the opening 31 in the gage-plate 29 is long enough to permit the scale to be read, indicating the length of a jack or con non rafter. In operating this attachnient the stock of the carpenters bevel can be laid on the side of the jackneedle D and the blade can be fitted to the hinged leaf 29, which will give the side out of the jack-rafter, and when the gage-plate 29 is fitted up to the hip-needle the plumb cut is defined. The limiting or locking bar 32 is en ployed so that the hinged leaf 29" will be securely held in position if the attachment is removed to indicate the two cuts for the upper end of the jack-rafter as well as the lower cuts, and the said leaf is locked also in order that it nzay keep its position when the needles are removed. The leaf attachment will not be used when it is desired only to ascertain the side cuts of hip or jack rafters. To obtain the length of the next j ack-rafter ICC &

after the point of the needle D is moved to a line at the right-hand side of the table marked one inch, the guide C is correspondingly moved, and the length of the next jack-rafter is read, and so on for each jack-rafter.

In order to ascertain the amount of material to be cut away in backing the hip, which is that portion of the rafter to which the sheathing is nailed, the two needles D and D, respectively, represent a hip and a jack rafter and are left crossing one another, as shown in Fig. 3, and a block 41 is clamped on the needle D, and this block carries a horizontal scale-arm 42, which is flush at its inner end with the upper edge of the said needle D. The said scale-arm 42 extends beneath and beyond the lower edge of the needle D, and a vertical scale-arm 43 is adjustably mounted on the horizontal scale-arm 42, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The vertical scale-arm is adjusted to and from the needle D according to a measurement of the thickness of the hiprafter, and then upon reading the verticaldegree-plate E is more or less triangular in general contour and is provided with a substantially U -shaped perpendicular sliding section 44 at the back, which loosely embraces the right-hand edge of the standard C, as shown in Fig. 8. The degree-plate E is held in positionupon the standard C by a setscrew 45, carried by the slide 44 at its rear. At the upper edge of the degree-plate E, im-

mediately in front of the scale-face of the standard C, a horizontal lug or extension-arm 46 is located, which extends in direction of the left-hand end of the standard, crossing the slot 16 therein, and at the lower forward end of the triangular degree-plate a second lug or extension-arm 47 is located, corresponding to the upper lug or extension-arm 46.

The foregoing arrangement is employed when a formula such as follows is to be worked out: Having a plan of a house the width of which is given in feet and inches and the pitch of the roof is given in degrees, find in feet and inches the height of the roof from the level of the wall-plate to the ridge. If it is desired to work in degrees only, it is not necessary to know the height of the house in feet and inches, as, if the point of the needle D is placed to indicate the width of the house,

widely diverge at their upper ends, but meet at their lower ends at the lower rear corner 50 ofthe degree-plate, as is shown in Fig. 6. The are of the upper line 48 is struck from the lower forward lug or extension-arm 47 and is marked in degrees, reading, for example, from O to 45, while the arc of the lower line 49 is struck fromthe upper rear lug or extension-arm 46, and the degrees in dicated thereon read, for example, from 45 to 90. The rear end of the needle D is passed through the slot 16 in the standard C in such manner that the lug or extensionarms 46 and 47 can be brought to bear upon the upper longitudinal edge of the needle as the degree-plate is carried downward.

When working out a problem such as has been stated above in the formula, the point of the needle is carried, for example, to the figure 6 on the table A, as shown by dotted lines in ,Fig. 6, and the degree of pitch, for example, being forty, the degree-plate E is carried downward, the extensionarm 47 bearing upon the needle until the needle has been pressed sufficiently down to cause its longitudinal edge to register with the degree marked 40 on the scale, whereupon the I height in feet and inches is obtained by reading the scale on the standard G up to the point where the needle crosses the said scale. If the pitch is very steep and the needle is to be brought to a point near the standard 0, as

is shown by full lines in Fig. 6, then the upper extension-arm 46 will act upon the needle as the degree-plate is pressed downward until the longitudinal edge of the needle registers with the proper degree on the lo over line 49 of the scale.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated an attachment whereby to find the be vel or line of cut of hip-rafters where said rafters come together at the ridge. This attachment consists of a gage-plate 51,- having a clampingsection 52, which engages with the left-hand side of the standard C, which plate does not cover the slot 16 in the standard C; but the plate 51 is provided with a skeleton head 53, also having guided connection with said standard, and the shape of the head is that of a true triangle, as shown in Fig. 5. When the needle D has been set to find the length of the hip-rafter, the gage-plate 51 is slid upon the standard C until its head 53 bears against the upper edge of the needle; and if the dis tance between the ridge and the side wallplate is the same as the length of the rafter the apex of the triangular head will be at the longitudinal center of the needle, as is shown by full lines in Fig. 5, and the bevel will be the same for both sides of the rafter; but if there is a discrepancy in the lengths above referred to of course the needle D in being placed in position will have been carried at an acute angle to the standard O, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and the bevel will IIO - and steeples of irregular shape.

be greater at one side of the rafter than at the other. The bevels of inclinations are obtained by placing and adjusting a carpenters bevel to the inclined faces of the said head 53 and side of the needle. In fact, wherever a bevel is to be obtained the ordinary carpenters bevel is used in connection with the age.

The table A shown in Fig. 9 is the same as that which is employed in Fig. 11 and is used in obtaining the measurements and cuts for timbers designed for polygonal buildings, perimeter and diagonal cuts, and in domes In connection with the table A just referred to the same form of standard C is employed, the guide 0 and adjusting-arm B, and when getting measurements for p olygonal buildings the two needles D and D, heretofore described, are also used.

The construction shown in Fig. 11 is that which is particularly adapted for obtaining the length of the timbers to be used in the construction of spires or steeples, and to that end two threaded rods 55 and 56 are made to turn at their rear portions which are not threaded in the bottom portion of the standard C, a block 57 being placed for that purpose in the lower end of the slot 16 in the standard. The screw-rods 55 and 56 extend practically from one side of the table A to the other, and each is provided with a knob 58 at its rear end, whereby the said screwrods are turned. A block 59, provided with a longitudinal threaded aperture, is mounted to travel on the upper screw-rod 55, while a second block 60 is made to travel on the lower rod 56 in like manner to the upper block 59. These two blocks are pivotally connected by the lower end 61 of a flexible measuring-arm F, the said lower end of the flexible arm being pivoted to the lower block 60 and likewise pivoted to the upper block 59; but where the measuring rod or arm F connects with the upper block 59 a longitudinal slot 62 is provided for the pivot in saidupper block, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 1, and the said arm extends down below the lower block 60, forming a terminal finger 63. The upper end of the measuring-arm F has a clampingscrew 64: passed through the longitudinal slot therein, and the said clamping-screw 64 is mounted to slide in the slot 16 of thestandard C and can be tightened to the standard at any point of adjustment. The table A also represents one-half of the ground plan of a building and is shown as provided adjacent to each margin with a scale of inches and fractions thereof reading from 1 to 6, as shown in Fig. 9, and from the various marks of the scale on one side to the corresponding marks of the scale on the adjacent side, which is at right angles to the first-mentioned side, qnadrantal lines 65 are produced, each line indicating a quarter of a circle.

These lines building, and so on.

65 indicate that circular lines can be measured as to width at any point from the slotted standard 0 to the point 68 in Fig. 9.

In the operation of the gage, as shown in Fig. 11, the length of the timber is supposed to be known, and the upper end of the measuring arm or red F is carried to a point on the scale of the standard 0 indicating such length and then the screw-clamp is loosened. The lower threaded bar 56 is then turned until the finger 63 is brought over one of the lines 65, determined in the same manner as has been described with reference to the needles in obtaining the length of rafters, and then the other screw-rod 55 is turned until the flexible measuring rod or arm F is bent or curved to the approximate outline of the proposed structure, at which time the screw-clamp 64 is tightened when the proper curvature has been obtained. The measuring rod or arm F is provided with a scale, and the reading of said scale at the clamping-nut after said arm has been adjusted will give the proper length for the desired timbers. The arm F is made as narrow as possible and yet show a scale. In all heavy work I use a needle D in the manner described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 in connection with the flexible measuring-arm F, so that while the arm F will show the curve on the outside or the inside, as the case may be, the needle D will show the angle of the straight timbers, and such arrangement is particularly useful in patternwork for brick and stone arches. The measuring-arm F is made quite thin in order that at any time its upper end can be placed in the same slot as the needle D. In connection with the needle D, I employ one or more scale-arms c, which scale-arms have offsets 64 at their rear ends, forming pockets to receive the needle D, as is shown in Fig. 12, and the scale-arms are held in place by set-screws 64:", located at the pocket-sections of said arms. The scale-arms c, sliding upon the needle E, serve to give the desired distance from the main timber to the curve at any desired point.

The table A, Fig. 9, is provided with a scale A", which is used in obtaining the length and cuts for the hip and jack rafters of poly onal buildings. This scale consists of an outer curved line 66, which may extend from corner to corner, representing a quarter of a circle, of which the standard 0 is at the center, and a series of lines 67 are drawn from a common point 68 at one end of the curved line 66, meeting the said curved line 68 at points between its ends, and each line is designated by a numeral-as, for example, 6, which would represent the lines for measurements of a hexagonal building; 7, which would represent the lines of measurement for a septagonal or seven-sided building; 8, the lines of measurement for an octagonal The needle D is set and ICC adjusted the standard C in the manner Which has been described, and if the building is to be a hexagonal building the point of the needle is placed on the line 67 running to the scale-line 6 at the circular portion of the scale, as is shown in Fig. 9, whereupon the length of the hiperafter is obtained in the same manner as has been described, and the length of the jack-rafters is obtained by placing the second needle D on the first needle D, representing the hip-rafter, and the second needle D representing a aok-rafter and indicated by dotted lines in F g. 9 is sup ported on the needle D in the same manner as shown in Fig. 3 and is operated also identically in the same manner; but the sharp or outerend of the needle D is made to follow the lines 67, drawn for hexagonal measurements when the hexagonal measurement for a jack-rafter is to be obtained. A slot 69 is made in one side of the table A adjacent to the point 68 where the lines 67 of the scale A meet, and a flat scale arm 7 0 is adjustably pivoted. at the slotted portion 69 of the said table A by means of a suitable pivot-pin 71, tightened byasuitable nut 72. This flat scalearm 70 forms a portion of the attachment adapted to obtain. the cuts and the measurements for purlins, and at the point near the pivot of the scale-arm a standard 7 2 is secured, and another standard 73 is secured to the outer end portion of the said scale-arm 70, as is also shown in Fig. 9. A bar 74 is pivoted between the two standards 7 2 and 73 and can be tightened at any time through the medium of a set-screw 75. This bar 74 consists of two members 7 4 and 7 4*, one at 'r-ight angles to the other, as is shown in Fig. 10. Each of the members 74 and 74 of the rocking angular bar 74 is provided with a longitudinal slot 75 and the member 74 is provided with a flat gage member 76,

, adjustable upon the said member 7 4 of the bar by a suitable screw 77 or its equivalent, and a second gage-bar 78 at right angles to the gage member 76 is adjustably placed on the member 7 4 of the rocking bar 7 4, held in place by a suitable set-screw 7 9, as is par ticularly shown in Fig. 10. In getting the cuts of a purlin the scale 7 O is adjusted parallel to the line 67, (designated on the scale 6,) as the building, it is to be remembered, is to be a hexagonal building. The free end portion of the scale 70 is then moved beneath the needle D representing the hip-rafter, until when the rocking bar 74 is turned its member 74 will engage with the under edge of the said needle D, as is shown at Fig. 10, and then the gage member 76 is slid along until it is brought in firm engagement with the side of the needle, and by means of a carpenters bevel the proper bevel for the end of the timber is secured.

In furtherexplanation of the construction Shown in Fig. 9 it may be stated that when a purlin is in the same plane as the roof it fits up snugly under the rafters and has two bevels in hip or octagon roofs. In a plain gable-roof the purlin is cut square off and abuts against the gable. In the common hiproof the purlin goes around with the roof. Therefore it joins at the corners and has two cuts at this pointt he vertical and the horizontal.

The rocking bar 74 represents a purlin and when in position the sliding bcvels 76 and 78 fit up against the hip-needle D at one end, while the other end slides upon the rocking bar or purlin 7 4' and indicates the cut in the right-angled purlin. This cut is taken by applying a carpenters bevel. Let it be supposed the cut obtained is the vertical out. Now the horizontal out is found in the same manner, only in one case the slide 76 is used and in the other case the slide 78. The cuts thus obtained are for both ends of the purlin.

The lines shown on the table in Fig. 9 are used to ascertain perimeter cuts as well as diagonal or rafter cuts, and in this connection a carpenters bevel is used, the stock or handle being set against the side of the table and the blade at the desired line thereon.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a gage for finding the lengths, bevels and cuts of building material, a table having a predetermined scale thereon, a standard mounted to revolve on the said table, the said standard being provided with a scale and with a longitudinal slot, an adjusting-arm connected with the said standard, a needle provided with a beveled point and having a scale produced thereon, which needle is adapted to pass through the slot in the standard, and a guide for the needle mounted to slide upon the said standard.

2. In a gage for finding the lengths, bevels and cuts of building material, a table ha ving a predetermined scale produced thereon, a standard mounted to turn on the said table, said standard being provided also with a scale and with a longitudinal slot, an adjusting-arm attached to the standard, means for clamping the said arm to the table, a needle provided with a scale, said needle having a beveled under edge, the rear portion of said needle being passed through the slot in the said standard, a guide mounted to slide on the standard, said guide being provided with adjustable clamping members which receive the needle between them, and means for securing the guide in position on the standard.

3. In a gage for finding the lengths, bevels and cuts of building material, a table ha ving a predetermined scale produced thereon, a standard mounted to turn on the table, which standard is provided with a scale upon one face and with a longitudinal slot extending nearly from end to end, a needle having also a scale produced thereon and provided with a pointed end the under edge of which is beveled, the rear portion of the needle being passed through the slot in the standard, a guide for the needle adjustable upon the said standard, an adjusting-arm connected with the said standard, extending beneath the table, and means for locking the said adjustingarm to the table.

4. In a gage for finding the lengths, bevels and cuts for building material, a table having a predetermined scale produced thereon,

a standard revolubly mounted upon said table, said standard being provided with a scale and a longitudinal slot, a needle having a beveled under surface at one end, the opposite end of which is passed through the slot of the standard, said needle being also provided with a scale, a clamping-guide for the needle mounted on said standard, a second clamping-guide mounted on said needle, and a second needle provided with a scale and carried by the said second guide, having a predetermined position relative to the firstnamed needle.

5. A gage for finding the lengths, bevels and cuts of building material, consisting of a table having a predetermined scale upon its upper face, a standard mounted to revolve on the table, means for adjusting the said standard, which standard is provided with a longitudinal slot and a scale upon one face, a needle having a scale on one face and one end beveled on its under edge, the opposite end of the said needle being passed through the slot in the said standard, a guide for the needle slidablv mounted on the standard, a second guide slidablv mounted on the said needle, a second needle also provided with a scale and adjustably carried by the said second guide, the last-named needle crossing the first-named needle, a horizontal scale-arm adjustably secured upon the first -na1ned needle, and a vertical scale-arm mounted to slide on the horizontal scale-arm to an engagenient transversely with the secondnamed needle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN D. WVALL.

l/Vitnesses:

Tnno LAGAARD, MARIE NORDAHL. 

